If anybody who knows me is reading this, it will come as no surprise that I have taken this opportunity to speak with great adulation about Harry Styles. While Styles might be known simply as the “Watermelon Sugar” singer to many, to me he is a pillar marking the various eras of my life.

One of the first real memories I have is listening to One Direction’s “Up All Night” debut album with my sister in her bedroom. I was 3-years-old when One Direction was formed, so as my sister quickly jumped on the “Directioner” bandwagon, I naturally followed. Up until the tragic, permanent hiatus announced in 2016, my sister and I would excitedly wait for a new album, tour, movie or interview to come out so that we could enjoy the band’s music together. While One Direction is not what Styles is solely known for today, I will always think of him as the member of a band that my sister and I love(d) so dearly.  

Styles is at the scene of the crime for the first major encounters with emotions that I have felt in my life, particularly jealousy, sadness and adoration. I know for a fact that the first time I ever felt true jealousy was when my sister received One Direction concert tickets for her birthday one year and I did not. Looking back now, I definitely don’t think that it would have been proper to send an 8-year-old to a concert with a bunch of teenagers. Even so, I could not feel anything but pure jealousy knowing that my sister was going to breathe the same air as One Direction and I was not. 

Moving to sadness, I felt great despair in my preteen years when I realized that I would never have a chance with Styles, but nothing can compare to the devastation I felt when One Direction’s hiatus (break-up) was announced. At first I was confused as to why my sister said that they were taking a break, but as more time passed, my confusion turned to sadness. What was I to do without One Direction dropping new albums every year? 

However, time moved on, and I grew up as each band member began their solo career, bringing me to adoration. While I followed (and still do follow) each member’s present career, I formed the greatest fixation with Styles, both musically and in terms of looks. From his catchy lyrics to his perfect hair, what else was 12-year-old me to do but plaster my room with his face and watch edits of him on TikTok? 

Styles did not merely influence my developing years — he is also a fundamental reason as to why my best friend and I are as close as we are now. I was still riding the high of Styles’ third studio album “Harry’s House” released in early 2022, when we met in our sophomore year of high school. After being sat next to each other in our British Literature class, she discovered my love for Styles early on, likely because I brought him up within our first conversation (shocker). I distinctly remember discussing our rankings for his three albums — “Harry Styles,” “Fine Line” then “Harry’s House” — and immediately respecting her when she agreed that while all three are good, “Harry Styles” is the best. I shared with her my dismay that, yet again, my sister attended Styles’ concert at the time and, again, I did not go. We still connect over Styles as an artist, recently calling each other to discuss — or more accurately, freak out — about his recent release of the song “Aperture,” announcement of his fourth album “Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally” and his new tour, “Together, Together.” 

As Styles has grown into a well-established solo artist, selling out arenas and stadiums around the world, he has given me not just music, but also some of the best relationships of my life. While I am excited to see what else Styles has to offer the world as an artist, I am equally excited to see what else he will coincidentally influence in my life.

As a first-year in college, I may not be as easily recognizable as a “Harrie,” but just know that you will likely hear about him after a few conversations. 

And yes, I will be at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 3 at the “Together, Together” tour with my sister to finally breathe the same air as him together.